The composition of the American workforce varies significantly by metro market, and can include the public sector, local serving jobs as well as younger technology workers. In this post we’ll take a look at how small properties service the housing needs of the workforce in different cities.

It is no secret that the U.S. population is aging. From 2010 to 2015, the US population grew 3.9%, but the population of those over 60 grew 16.7%.

The growing lack of affordability within U.S. rental housing has led to the creation of new loan programs aimed at strengthening and preserving the existing stock of multifamily that’s affordable for the workforce. It turns that a large portion of housing suitable for the workforce is found in smaller apartment properties with between 5 and 50 units.

Here’s a quick look at the small balance multifamily finance and investment benchmarks for Q1 2017.

Making an apartment community more energy efficient can boost NOI by reducing operating expenses. While gas and electric power the majority of America’s housing stock, the use of solar thermal heating has increased by 19% from 2010 to 2015.

While Gateway markets like New York and San Francisco still dominate, the STEAM job market (think STEM plus arts) is increasingly moving to Secondary markets.